Chapter 77: Rebirth from Death, The Mystery of the Lake
The old man, who had been shrouded in an aura of death, suddenly felt a surge of energy, a rejuvenation like a withered tree coming back to life.
His breathing deepened, his back straightened, and a hint of color returned to his pale, almost corpse-like face.
“—I’ve wasted a hundred years, blinded by my own obsession, unaware of the path I was heading down.”
He sighed in regret.
Then, he bowed deeply, his expression filled with gratitude. “You have shown me great kindness, Sir, saving me from death and granting me more time.
Your words have awakened me from my delusion. It is a debt I can never repay!”
“It was nothing.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and put down the Go stones. “I just saw that you were in trouble and wanted to help. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing that you were being drained of your life force by that lake.”
The old man was stunned. He looked at the lake, its surface shimmering with a chilling mist, and murmured, “So it’s true…”
“Whether there’s a treasure in this lake or not, I can’t say.” Lin Tianlu said casually. “But this water is definitely strange.”
The old man remained silent.
Thinking back, when he had first arrived at the mountain, although he had been anxious and impatient due to his approaching death, he hadn’t felt so weak and drained, as if all his cultivation had been depleted.
It was only after spending five days alone on the mountain that his mind had weakened, and the aura of death had begun to emanate from him.
But those five days were now a blur in his memory, like a hazy dream.
“I was too arrogant, too careless.”
He took a deep breath. “Thanks to your guidance, Sir, I’ve had a breakthrough. I’m going to find a secluded place to continue my cultivation.”
“You’re free to go, Old Master. But—”
“If you have any requests, Sir, I’ll do my best to fulfill them!”
“There’s no need for that. I just have a few simple questions.” Lin Tianlu asked curiously, “What is your current cultivation level, Old Master?”
“I’ve transcended the mortal realm. It’s called the ‘Transformation Realm’.”
It was indeed the ‘Transformation Realm’ that Yan Yi had mentioned.
He pondered for a moment, then continued,
“And what sect do you belong to?”
“I’ve always cultivated alone. I don’t belong to any sect.”
“Thank you for your answers, Old Master.”
Lin Tianlu bowed slightly. “You should descend the mountain now. Time is precious when it comes to cultivation breakthroughs.”
“I won’t disturb you any longer, Sir.” The old man said in a deep voice. “But there seems to be a barrier over the lake, making it difficult to approach. If you want to retrieve the treasure, you might have to wait.
And, may I know your name, Sir—”
“Didn’t you say it yourself, Old Master?” Lin Tianlu smiled faintly. “Names are just fleeting titles. Our game of Go is enough. We’ll meet again if fate allows it.”
The old man was stunned for a moment, then chuckled softly and bowed deeply. “If I’m fortunate enough to make another breakthrough and extend my life, I will repay your kindness.”
With that, his figure dissolved into a gentle breeze, leaving behind a faint whisper.
“Be wary of the village chief of He’an Village.”
“…”
Hua Shuya, who had been about to return the gesture, stared at the empty spot, her eyes wide with surprise. “Senior, he’s gone?”
“Yes, he’s already descended the mountain.”
“The ‘Transformation Realm’… is it truly so extraordinary?”
“He’s no ordinary martial artist, Miss Hua. With enough practice, you’ll reach that level someday.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled softly and walked towards the lake.
Up close, the lake was indeed strange. Its surface shimmered with a greenish-blue hue, but the water itself was clear and transparent, revealing the countless pebbles at the bottom.
Due to its high altitude, the lake water was incredibly cold, a chilling mist rising from its surface.
Hua Shuya, who had just followed him, felt a wave of coldness washing over her, and she froze in her tracks.
Even with her warm jacket and her Azure Spirit energy circulating, she couldn’t resist the bone-chilling coldness.
“That old man… he spent five days in this place?” Hua Shuya was speechless.
Lin Tianlu noticed her pale face and said gently, “Miss Hua, the Yin energy in this lake is incredibly concentrated. It’s almost part of the water itself. If you’re feeling unwell, step back a bit. Let me examine the lake first.”
“Alright.”
Hua Shuya didn’t argue and retreated obediently.
Only after reaching the spot where they had played Go did she feel her body warming up.
“Be careful, Senior!”
“I will.”
Lin Tianlu wouldn’t touch the water recklessly.
This lake was clearly dangerous.
But even after examining it carefully, he couldn’t see anything unusual.
And the stream flowing into the lake looked like any other mountain spring. It was the lake itself that seemed strange.
“—I guess I’ll have to try it myself.”
Lin Tianlu’s expression turned serious as he reached out towards the water.
But an invisible force stopped his hand.
Was this the barrier the old man had mentioned?
Lin Tianlu pondered for a moment.
Then, he clenched his hand into a fist and, with a series of crackling sounds, tore through the barrier.
It felt as if some external force had crumbled, dissipating into the wind.
“Fortunately, it wasn’t that strong.”
He dipped his fingers into the water, feeling a refreshing coolness. It didn’t seem dangerous, at least not to him.
Of course, this might just be his perception.
Lin Tianlu took out the jade pendant from his pocket and tapped it lightly. “Can you give me a sign? Is the thing you’re looking for here?”
As if responding to his call, the pendant trembled and shot out of his hand, plunging into the water excitedly.
He watched as it bounced up and down on the surface, as if trying to communicate.
“Are you saying… you want me to come down and search with you? If so, spin around.”
The pendant spun around.
“I didn’t expect to go for a swim on a mountaintop.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled, took off his jacket, stretched his limbs, and jumped into the lake, following the pendant’s guidance.
He quickly reached the center of the lake and saw a faint glow emanating from the rocks at the bottom.
As he moved a few large stones, a strange fluctuation spread out from the lakebed, causing the water to tremble and waves to ripple across the surface.
Lin Tianlu was surprised.
The Yin energy was so concentrated. Could there really be a treasure buried here?
He continued to remove the stones, the surging Yin energy creating increasingly powerful waves!
As he dug deeper, he finally saw the source of the Yin energy…
At the very bottom of the lake, buried beneath layers of stones, lay a diamond-shaped ore, a vibrant blue-purple color. The Yin energy had solidified, encasing the ore like a protective shell, resembling a miniature planet.
“This seems to be… a product of Jade Peak Mountain itself.”
At the same time, the jade pendant in his hand flew towards the ore excitedly.
…
Rumble, rumble—!
The sudden tremors shook the entire mountain, the lake water churning violently.
Hua Shuya stumbled, staring at the scene before her in shock.
She couldn’t see what was happening in the water, but she felt a wave of chilling coldness washing over her, making her shiver.
“Senior… are you alright?”
Anxiety gripped her heart.
But in a daze, she felt a strange pull, a longing.
Something in the lake was calling out to her, urging her to come closer…
No!
She bit her tongue hard, the pain snapping her back to reality. She was drenched in cold sweat.
“This lake is truly strange. Just standing here for a while almost made me lose my mind.”
Hua Shuya took a few steps back, her face pale with fear.
If she had jumped into the lake, she would have not only endangered herself, but also caused trouble for Senior.
“I have to stay calm and trust Senior!”
Hua Shuya circulated her internal energy, trying to steady her mind.
“With Senior’s power, he can definitely—”
But at that moment, her pupils constricted.
A terrifying coldness emanated from behind her, as if countless icy blades were piercing through her body, filling her with a sense of dread!
“Who’s there!”
She turned around, her face pale, and saw a tall, slender figure standing silently in the distance. The woman’s thin black robe billowed in the wind, revealing her pale, almost naked body.
“…A woman?”
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